The First International Conference on Energy and Indoor Environment for Hot Climates kicks off today in Doha, Qatar. The program includes four keynote addresses, three internationally-organized special sessions, 13 conference paper sessions and 43 papers. In all, some 60 presentations on latest trends, new ideas, research and applications of energy efficiency in high ambient temperature climates.

Organized by ASHRAE, the ASHRAE Qatar Oryx Chapter and the Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), the Conference takes place Feb. 24-26, 2014, in Doha, Qatar. It is endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), the Federation of European Heating and Air-Conditioning Associations (REHVA), the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), and co-sponsored by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and the Qatar University College of Engineering.

For the conference schedule and to register, visit www.ashrae.org/hotclimates.

The conference features papers that will be presented in the following topics:

• Modeling Building Load
  
• HVAC System Operation
  
• Sustainable Buildings
  
• HVAC Technology
  
• Thermal Comfort
  
• Renewable Energy Technologies
  
• Systems for Improving Indoor Environmental Quality
  
• Building Envelopes
  
• HVAC System Performance
  
• Unique Applications
  
• Refrigerant Performance
  
• Healthy Indoor Environments

The conference also features keynote presenters, including:

• Traditional Technology for Modern Problems: Re-energizing Wind Towers, Ben Richard Hughes, Ph.D., associate professor of building physics, School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds
  
• Solar Cooling in Hot Climates, Stephen White, Ph.D., Energy for Buildings Manager, CSIRO Energy Flagship Program leader, Low Carbon Living Cooperative Research Centre, Newcastle, Australia
  
• Integrating Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency in Buildings, ASHRAE President Bill Bahnfleth, Ph.D., P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, ASME Fellow, professor of Architectural Engineering and director of the Indoor Environment Center at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa.

The World Health Organization (WHO) will present a session on indoor environments and health, covering general perspectives on health and indoor environments; housing and health; health based guidelines on indoor air quality; and the health aspect of energy use in indoor environments.

UNEP is hosting a special session with regional research centers to present updates on projects and research findings related to IAQ and energy efficiency, followed by a panel discussion.

A look at future HVAC&R technology presented by major companies is hosted by the Qatar Oryx Chapter and AHRI.

The conference proceedings will be distributed to conference attendees onsite and is included in the registration fee. The registration fee is $600 ($500, ASHRAE members).

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is a building technology society with more than 50,000 members worldwide. The Society and its members focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration and sustainability. Through research, standards writing, publishing, certification and continuing education, ASHRAE shapes tomorrow's built environment today. More information can be found at www.ashrae.org/news.